Anne Hathaway wearing a royal tiara and pearl necklace as Mia Thermopolis
Anne Hathaway has a promising update for fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter of Genovian royalty.
The Oscar winner confirmed that the long-gestating third installment of The Princess Diaries has reached a crucial creative milestone.
Anne Hathaway wearing a diamond crown and elegant gown as Mia Thermopolis.
A New Creative Direction
During an interview on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy, host Andy Cohen pressed Hathaway for an update on the sequel’s production timeline.
Hathaway admitted that her current pregnancy with her third child alongside husband Adam Shulman has temporarily shifted her immediate focus. “I’m busy making baby No. 3 and that has sort of taken the place of knowing exactly when I can make Princess Diaries 3,” she noted with a laugh.
Despite the shifting timeline, the actress delivered a major update on the film’s narrative.
“I can say I think we had a story breakthrough,” Hathaway revealed. “I think we are moving in the right direction.”
She acknowledged that the team essentially threw out earlier drafts to pursue this fresh angle. While starting over might sound like a setback, Hathaway assured fans it was the right move: “We all feel really good that this is gonna be the one.”
Decades in the Making
Development on the third movie has been a slow burn.
Reports first surfaced in 2022 that a new script was actively in the works. Momentum picked up again in 2024 when Adele Lim signed on to direct the project.
The upcoming film will continue the story of Mia Thermopolis, a role Hathaway originated in 2001 and reprised in 2004. The franchise tracks her journey from an awkward American teenager to the heir apparent of a European kingdom.
The 2004 sequel concluded with Mia being crowned Queen as a single woman, having successfully lobbied parliament to abolish an archaic marriage law. She also called off her royal wedding to Andrew Jacoby (Callum Blue) to pursue a romance with Nicholas Devereaux (Chris Pine).
Author Approval
Meg Cabot, author of the original book series, is already singing the new script’s praises.
In a recent interview, Cabot revealed she had to stop reading drafts because she was too excited.
“I told them not to send anymore, because I love it so much,” Cabot said. “I have a problem keeping my mouth shut.”
The author also hinted that longtime readers will be highly satisfied with the current direction.
“I’m very happy with what I’ve read so far, but there’s definitely some book things that were involved in the last script I read,” Cabot teased.
